Reported parental age of death in type 2 diabetic patients with and without established diabetic nephropathy

Abstract

Background: Diabetic patients with renal disease have increased mortality, largely from cardiovascular disease. This could be related to insulin resistance or to other inherited factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there is evidence of the familial aggregation of increased mortality, even in the absence of diabetes, by studying the reported parental age of death in type 2 diabetes. Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy (group A), patients with type 2 diabetes but without nephropathy (group B) and normal controls (group C) were interviewed and asked to report the age of death of their parents. Results: The mean (± standard deviation) parental age of death was 68.2 (± 13.8) years in group A, 67.3 (± 16.0) years in group B and 68.1 (± 14.9) years in group C. There was no statistical difference between any of the groups. Conclusion: Our preliminary study has failed to show evidence of reduced life expectancy of parents of patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy.